BDRC report shows surge in online bookings for UK hotels

Tuesday, 12 Mar, 2007 0

The internet is used by 60% of business travellers and 50% of leisure travellers when booking a hotel in the UK, according to the British Hotel Guest 2007 report.

In 2006, only 44% of business travellers and 37% of leisure travellers booked UK hotels online.

The report was researched and produced by BDRC, which questioned 803 business and 809 leisure travellers.

It showed that 89% of these travellers book through search engines compared with 41% going straight to the hotel website.

Of the online travel websites, Expedia is number one in terms of sites visited (31%) and rooms booked with lastminute.com taking second place (29%).

The survey found the UK hotel market saw domestic business volume up almost 5% on last year.

In the last seven years, branded room supply has increased by almost 50%, with the budget sector doubling its stock since 2000.

When it comes to choosing one hotel over another 43% of business travellers claim their top priority is access to free broadband in their bedrooms with free wireless internet access the top priority in 38%.

By Bev Fearis

Bev

Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.

We are the UK’s leading Canada travel experts Canadian Affair Company Information Founded in 1995, Canadian Affair offers an...

Take your clients’ vacation to the next level at Universal Orlando Resort™. With three amazing theme parks – Universal Studios...

Travel Outlook, the premier hotel call center™ Travel Outlook is an innovative, custom off-site central reservations office (CRO) service that...

WANDERERS WELCOME to MISSISSIPPI Mississippi is a state for all those who are wanderers at heart. From lush, forested Appalachian foothills to...

Global Hotel Alliance brings together a unique collection of independent hospitality brands for GHA DISCOVERY, a multi-brand loyalty programme. GHA...

Traveltek is the world-leading provider of online solutions for the travel trade, from consumer-facing websites to call centre applications. We...

Located in the Mediterranean and connecting Asia and European continents that are separated by the famous Bosphorus, Türkiye is a...

Via Croatia is a concierge-type, full-service luxury DMC working exclusively with travel agents and luxury tour operators. With 20 years...

ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES Mabuhay! Welcome to our archipelago of 7,641 islands where there are endless beaches, lively and fashionable cities,...

The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) is the only organization that promotes metro Detroit regionally, nationally and...

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels...

Located in the heart of the Northeast and within easy driving distance of a third of the population of the...

Classic Collection is where travel expertise and personal service combine to create the perfect luxury holiday. Our travel agent partners...

Air Transat is Canada’s number one leisure airline. It flies to some 60 international destinations in more than 25 countries...

River cruising is a treat for the senses, allowing you to see, touch, feel and experience the world like never...

At Wilderness Safaris we believe in creating life-changing journeys and have been doing so for over 39 years. Our purpose...

With long periods of Thailand’s History, according to evidences and studies, Sukhothai was the first kingdom of Thailand. At that time, an early Thai...